Report: Mashaal to travel to Cairo for PA unity talks

Hamas political chief Khaled Mashaal was expected to travel to Cairo in the coming days in continued attempts to advance reconciliation talks with rival Palestinian faction Fatah, Israel Radio reported Sunday.

Mashaal recently telephoned Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil El-Arabi requesting a meeting, according to the report, which cited Palestinian sources. Hamas on Sunday blamed the Fatah leadership for holding up the reconciliation agreement, pointing to their insistence on nominating current Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad as the next interim prime minister of a unity government.